About the Book

When Paul Pinkerton, a scared and reluctant Army infantryman, enters Vietnam in 1968, he vows he’ll never return. Yet more than two decades later he goes back to look for the POWs and MIAs he’s convinced were left behind. His single-minded obsession with the movement takes him on a series of life-altering trips as he attempts to make peace with his past.

Meanwhile, Sandra Campbell, a woman unknown to Paul, battles her own personal demons as she sorts out her childhood abandonment, dysfunctional family dynamics, and mysterious birthfather. By chance, their worlds collide on Valentine’s Day, setting in motion a remarkable journey together. Beautifully written, Divine Fate merges their individual stories into a single, compelling narrative.

From a sleepy Pennsylvania town to the bustling streets of Saigon, this complex tale takes an intimate look at adversity, perseverance, and self-sacrifice. Paul’s focus on the “abandoned and forgotten” changes from POWs and MIAs to Vietnamese orphans, as he and Sandy navigate the uncharted waters of Vietnamese adoption together. Their work comes with substantial intrinsic rewards while taking its toll on every aspect of their lives.

For many, Sandy and Paul are heroes and saints as they dedicate themselves to a cause that’s sometimes discouraging, often heartbreaking, and always unpredictable. Their poignant story of self-discovery will leave readers questioning their own purpose in life and whether life is divinely planned or simply the culmination of random events.